What is the cost of living in Whitefish, MT?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Whitefish has an overall cost of living index of 127, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Montana, Whitefish has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Montana's index of 102.
The standard of living in Whitefish ranks as #24 most affordable out of the 26 places we measured in Montana. By definition, that implies Whitefish ranks as the #2 most expensive place in the Treasure State.
For more reading on life in Whitefish, check out:
Whitefish Cost Of Living Vs. Montana
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Whitefish. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Whitefish is 106.
The Groceries index in Whitefish is 105.
The Health index in Whitefish is 191.
The Housing index in Whitefish is 100.
The Transportation index in Whitefish is 100.
The Utilities index in Whitefish is 104.
| Living Expense | Whitefish | Montana | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 127 | 102 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 103 | 100 |
| Health | 191 | 101 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 100 | 100 |
Whitefish Cost Of Living Compared To Montana Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Montana, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Whitefish Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Whitefish, MT Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Montana, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Whitefish is $864,156.
The Median Rent in Whitefish is $1,354.
The Median Income in Whitefish is $73,811.
The Home Value To Income in Whitefish is 11.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Whitefish is 0.22x.
Whitefish, MT Costs By Category
Detailed Whitefish Services costs vs. Montana
Detailed Whitefish Groceries costs vs. Montana
Detailed Whitefish Health costs vs. Montana
Detailed Whitefish Transportation costs vs. Montana
Whitefish SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Whitefish
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Whitefish. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Kalispell, MT has a cost of living index of 107, 0.8x Whitefish.
Evergreen, MT has a cost of living index of 106, 0.8x Whitefish.
Columbia Falls, MT has a cost of living index of 102, 0.8x Whitefish.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Whitefish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalispell, MT | 28,504 | 107 | 0.8x |
| Evergreen, MT | 9,611 | 106 | 0.8x |
| Columbia Falls, MT | 5,615 | 102 | 0.8x |
